The Three Birds

‘The Three Birds’ was the first play written by Joanna Laurens, an English playwright who is still in her early thirties. This contemporary, poetic play is a blend of ‘Philomela’ – the ancient Greek Ovid’s story - and ‘Tereus’, the play by Sophocles that went missing.

Laurens’ awards include one for Most Promising Playwright (2000) and the ‘Time Out’ award for Most Outstanding New Talent (2001).

This Curtin Performance Studies and Hayman Theatre Company presentation by the students is showing at The Hayman Theatre Upstairs, Curtin University, Bentley. These chilling, 105-minute performances are until Saturday 6^th October. Curtain up at 7.30 pm. Tickets are at a sensible price.

          Like a wind passing through the theatre, a flock of birds gather on the stage. When threatened by humans, they group and quiver, re-finding their freedom when the threat has passed by.

         A rich, middle-aged businessman, Pandion (Choong Boon Siew) is talking to young handsome, regally linked, Tereus (Jack Middleton); he has an offer to make – his daughter. Tereus is thrilled as he has always loved Philomela (Georgina Cramond), but Pandion is actually offering his other beautiful daughter, Procne (Hannah Mason). Faced with the possibility of being shunned and cut out of any further negotiations for a spouse, Tereus reluctantly decides to accept the rich man’s offer. Even when Procne offers, ‘the bushy vale beneath the two Athenian Hills’ he is still less than enthusiastic.

        After some time they have a son, Itys (Gemma Middleton) who is a chip off the old man’s block, greedy and strong-minded. Tereus pines for his beloved Philomela who is forever outside his reach. To ensure that no one else will have her, with the help of his man servant (Dylan Searle) he viciously cuts out her tongue and incarcerates her in a secret venue, telling everyone that she has been eaten by wolves.

       Philomela creates a tapestry that is sent to her sister, Procne, who has the skill to read the threads and finds that she is still alive, Philomela is rescued and the sisters plot their revenge.
      The play finishes with the three main characters turning into three very different birds before flying off.

Leah Mercer has created a fast-paced, highly physical play, filled with action that employs the whole theatre. The design (Tessa Darcey, assisted by Jacinta Grando) is simple but visually most effective. The whole stage and the drapes, along with the costumes (Ellie Morrison) are all in virginal white. A great deal of the atmosphere relies upon the lighting design (Duncan Sharp – operated Angela Donlan).

The chorus comprised Rachel Foucar, Tanaya Harper, Amy Johnston, Rebecca Miller and Judy Young. The acting was a little inconsistent, but with particularly fine performances by Hannah Mason and Georgina Cramond, the overall effect was most satisfying.

The script was extremely clever, full of double-entendres, metaphors and symbolism. The audience took a little time to latch on to the style of humour, but still missed many of the jokes.

This adaptation of the Ovid story is wonderfully entertaining and in general well presented by the university students.